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The information contained in an autopsy report is not public record, and is treated as a confidential medical record. Please see below for instructions on how to request reports and see our frequently asked questions.

NOTE: If the case is a homicide or still under criminal, active investigation, a report cannot be released without permission from the District Attorney’s Office.

Authorized Requestors:

1. Legal Next-of-Kin

2. Attorneys and Insurance Companies


1. Legal Next-of-Kin (in descending order of authority):

You must be the legal next-of-kin in order to obtain an autopsy report. The final report is available at no charge to the legal next-of-kin (if record is older than 5 years, a pre-payment of $150.00 is required).

Legal next-of-kin is listed below in the descending order of authority. Please do not submit a request for reports if there are surviving relatives that come before you in the list below:

FIRST: Legal spouse/domestic partner of the decedent, whether estranged or separated, but NOT divorced; then,
SECOND: Person designated in written instrument (court appointed estate executor or administrator; then,
THIRD: Decedent’s adult children 18 or older (excluding step-children); then,
FOURTH: Either parent of decedent; then,
FIFTH: Sibling of decedent 18 or older (including half-siblings); then,
SIXTH: Grandchildren 18 or older; then,
SEVENTH: Great grandchildren 18 or older; then,
EIGHTH: Nieces and nephews 18 or older; then,
NINTH: Grand-nieces and grand-nephews 18 or older; then,

TENTH: Grandparents of decedent; then,

ELEVENTH: Aunts and uncles 18 or older; then,

TWELFTH: First cousins 18 or older; then,

THIRTEENTH: Great grandchildren of grandparents 18 or older; then,

FOURTEENTH: Second cousins 18 or older.

TO REQUEST A REPORT: IF you are the legal next of kin as stated above, please do one of the following:

  • Fill out our online Autopsy Report Request Form and you will be emailed a copy of the report when completed in a confidential email.
  • Download, Print and Mail or Print & Fax
    a signed completed Autopsy Report Request Form to:
    100 Elizabeth Blackwell Street
    Syracuse, NY 13210
    Fax: 315.435.3319

2. Attorneys and Insurance Companies:

TO REQUEST A REPORT: Requests must be emailed to autopsyrequests@ongov.net
Please send email requests on company letterhead and from a company email address with full signature block (including name of requester, title, agency name/address, email and phone). All requests must include a signed release from the legal next-of-kin.

Reports will be sent from the secure email address “ITNotification@ongov.net”; please be sure to check your spam folder. NOTE: Examination report(s) take approximately 90 days to be completed and may take longer if additional testing and review are required by the medical examiner.

Frequently Asked Questions